Art classes becoming the latest trend
By Muninggar Sri Saraswati
JAKARTA (JP): A nude young man sat quietly with an empty look on his face in the middle of a dimly lit room. His face showed no emotion even though he was surrounded by several people who now and then carefully observed him.
Do not misunderstand the situation. This was not a striptease show.
Welcome to a modeling session at Teguh Gallery in Cilandak, South Jakarta. It is just one of many galleries and art studios in the city offering painting classes, which have become a trend here lately.
The owner, prominent artist Teguh Ostenrik, claimed that he decided to open the painting class about four and a half years ago because he wanted to share his skill in art.
Teguh told The Jakarta Post that he oversaw the students' progress personally, depending on their ability.
"My theory is to reduce the students' mistakes so I let them make mistakes first," he said, adding that he would reveal the correct way afterward.
At the beginning of the course, a student learns to exercise his basic drawing skills by sketching a human model. One has to draw with charcoal at the first level, then with India ink and then charcoal again. At the advanced level, students draw something in a room, imagining an object she or he has seen before.
Most students who come to the Teguh Gallery are foreigners.
"Several Indonesians attend the course here as well, but they don't make a commitment to learn seriously," Teguh remarked.
Yani, an assistant at the gallery, said one could attend the two-hour class every day except Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are three to five students in a class and each student pays about Rp 150,000 (US$13) a session. The fee covers the materials, except the canvas.
A student at the gallery, Eliana Thorpe, said she attended the course because she wanted to take painting seriously.
Thorpe, who comes from South America, has been attending the course for about three years. Her paintings have been displayed in an exhibition along with Teguh's, and so far she has sold five of them.
"It is not about the money, but I feel satisfaction when someone appreciates my paintings," she remarked, adding that joining a painting class relaxes her mind as well.
For those who just want to kill time or consider taking painting as a hobby can check out other places which cater to their needs.
One of them is Hadiprana Gallery in Kemang, South Jakarta, which offers classes for adults and children.
According to gallery assistant Erna, Hadiprana has provided classes since August 1998. The subjects for adults include water color painting, oil painting, batik painting, folk art painting on wood, glass and ceramics and pergamano (paintings usually made for invitation cards).
Course fees range from Rp 300,000 ($27) to Rp 600,000 per subject. Each course requires six to eight sessions of classes that are two hours long and held once a week. The fee does not include painting materials, which is an additional Rp 300,000.
Drawing classes are offered to children from between Rp 240,000 and Rp 300,000.
The gallery has 10 teachers who mostly have a background in interior design and each class has between eight and 12 students.
"Students are free to express their ideas in their work, but the teacher will show some painting techniques, including on colors, lines and shapes," she told the Post.
She said some adult students joined the course because it was a hobby for them, but others said they wanted to fill up their spare time. Most students who attend classes on days other than Saturday are housewives.
"They believe that joining a course in painting is better then shopping," she said.
The gallery has put on several exhibitions to show off its students' work.
Booming
Painting courses have become quite popular among the well-off following a business boom in the local art world. Late in the 1990s, when the rupiah's value had already dropped, many troubled art collectors sold their paintings, while those who still had money started to invest in art. Foreign buyers also eyed the works of local artists. And a number of new galleries opened, while no day went by without an art exhibition.
Separately, the art curator of Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Ipong Purnomo Sidi, said that in most painting classes, students were only taught painting techniques without exploring their ideas and creativity, which was the most important thing in art.
Amir Sidharta from Museum Pelita Harapan told the Post by phone: "A painting course? It is good, why not? It is a useful and alternative way to spend your spare time."
He said that painting courses were a trend that started about 10 years ago, and reflected people's "need for beauty" here. He noted that in the 1970s most people did not consider painting to be important.
Amir, who is also an art critic, believed that painting classes would contribute to the Indonesian art world, or at least motivate people to appreciate the arts.
"But of course, only one or two students who take painting classes become qualified painters," Amir remarked.
Amir warned that people needed to be careful when choosing a course in painting considering the fact that there are probably some places which were business oriented. He suggested they check the teacher's qualifications and course curriculum, which should cover basic to advanced skills.
"Don't forget to tell them your painting skill. It is essential to know which level you should attend," he ended.